A CHALLENGE to the fortnightly waste collection policy was 'hijacked' at a full meeting of Vale Royal Borough Council.

A motion calling for a 'more flexible policy' on rubbish collection, given the high number of complaints from residents since the borough council changed the system in April, was effectively thrown out before it could be voted on.

Labour group leader Brian Lloyd had asked the council to vote on his motion, but Tory councillor Professor Leslie Ford slapped an amendment on the motion, which took away the possibility of a change in policy.

The original motion said: 'That in view of the high level of complaints received from Vale Royal residents, and public demands for a return to a weekly collection of residual household waste, the authority adopts a more flexible policy on the collection of residual waste.'

But after Cllr Ford's amendment was accepted by the council, the new version the councillors could vote on read dramatically differently. It said:

'That in view of the level of complaints received from Vale Royal residents, particularly those orchestrated by a pro forma, that this council notes the marked improvement in performance on recycling achieved by the new system, up to 49% of total waste collected, the low numbers of missed collection now being achieved and commends the hard work and flexibility of our staff in bringing this success about.

'We also wish to commend the public of Vale Royal for their forbearance while the collection system has overcome its teething troubles.'

The amended motion forced Labour councillors who wanted a return to a weekly collection into a corner, by 'robbing them' of an issue to vote on.

Those councillors opposed to the system, which has been introduced as part of the Kerbside Recycling Scheme, were forced to abstain,

while the Conservative and Liberal-Democrat members voted to approve the new motion.

After the meeting Cllr Ford said: 'I think we had quite a significant victory - they could not even vote on anything.

'I used the power of reasoned amendment. Their motion was so full of holes it desired to be amended.

'It was Labour which came up with this idea in 1994, but they did not go through with it. I think it is just sour grapes because we pinched their idea and made it work.'

But a furious Cllr Lloyd had a different take on the evening's proceedings. He said: 'It was hijacked. I think it was a disgrace.

'It was very cynical, because if we had voted against the amendment it would have meant we were voting against recycling and how could we vote against something we were in favour of?

'It's totally ignoring the issue that residents are complaining about.'